บริษัท ไมเนอร์ อินเตอร์เนชั่นแนล จำกัด (มหาชน)

Bangkok, 21 January 2013: Minor Hotel Group is pleased to announce that it will expand its presence in the United Arab Emirates with the launch of its first hotel in Dubai. The Anantara Dubai Palm Jumeirah Resort & Spa is a five star resort on the crescent of Dubai's iconic Palm Jumeirah, and will open in September 2013.

Minor Hotel Group is partnering with Dubai-based owning company Seven Tides for its first property in the Emirate, which will be part of the internationally renowned Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas portfolio. The luxurious property is designed to reflect the brand's Asian heritage and will bring Anantara's experience and discovery-lead hospitality to the Dubai market.

Set amidst lush landscaping, the new resort and spa will offer a total of 293 guest rooms and suites clustered in units of four to eight to maximise privacy, with 130 guest rooms featuring direct access to 11,000 square metres of lagoon pools. The 12 Beach Villas, 18 Over Water Villas and three highly exclusive Royal Beach Villas give the resort an indulgent and exotic feel. Impressive facilities will include a private beach, three natural lagoons, water sports, a shoreline infinity pool, an Anantara Spa with 12 treatment rooms, a fitness studio and two tennis courts. An elaborate entertainment area will be accompanied by meeting rooms with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment. A ballroom accommodating 300 people and the private beach will provide inspirational venues for events and weddings.

Six themed restaurants and bars include an all-day dining restaurant serving classic Middle Eastern and international cuisine, an Australian inspired grill, an Asian themed specialty restaurant, a beachfront Mediterranean restaurant, a lobby lounge with a dedicated shisha deck, and poolside refreshments. For the ultimate in tailored private dining, Anantara's signature ‘Dining by Design' concept will invite guests to dine in a dream setting with a private chef and butler.

When it opens, Anantara Dubai Palm Jumeirah Resort & Spa will be a great complement to Anantara's three existing properties in Abu Dhabi - Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, which is positioned in the world's largest uninterrupted sand desert, Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara, located on Sir Bani Yas Island, and Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa in Abu Dhabi City. The new resort promotes the brand's distinctive reputation for luxury discovery in the region, and also creates a landmark presence with such a strategic base in Dubai.

William E. Heinecke, Chairman and CEO of Minor International, the owning company of Anantara, commented, "We are excited to announce our first Anantara property in Dubai which is a significant milestone for Minor. This new resort strengthens our footprint in the key strategic market of the UAE and I am confident it will greatly contribute to our success there."

Dillip Rajakarier, CEO Minor Hotel Group, added, "We are delighted to be partnering with a progressive and respected company such as Seven Tides to open our fourth unique property in the UAE. Anantara Dubai Palm Jumeirah Resort & Spa consolidates our brand's focus on iconic destinations and builds upon our growing collection of properties in some of the world's most exciting cities."

 

About Minor International:
Minor International (MINT) is a global company focused on three primary businesses including restaurants, hotels and lifestyle brands distribution. MINT is a hotel owner, operator and investor with a portfolio of 41 hotels and 41 serviced suites under the Anantara, AVANI, Oaks, Elewana, Marriott, Four Seasons, St. Regis and Minor International brands in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, China, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Tanzania, Kenya, Australia, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. MINT is one of Asia's largest restaurant companies with over 1,300 outlets operating system wide in 18 countries under The Pizza Company, Swensen's, Sizzler, Dairy Queen, Burger King, Thai Express, the Coffee Club and Ribs and Rumps brands. MINT is also one of Thailand's largest distributors of lifestyle brands focusing primarily on fashion, cosmetics and contract manufacturing. Its brands include Gap, Esprit, Bossini, Charles & Keith, Pedro, Red Earth, Tumi, Zwilling J.A. Henckels, and ETL Learning. For more information, please visit www.minorinternational.com.

About Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas:
For hundreds of years throughout Thailand, people would leave a jar of water outside their house to provide refreshment and extend a welcome to the passing traveler. Anantara is taken from an ancient Sanskrit word that means 'without end', symbolising this sharing of water and the heartfelt hospitality that lies at the core of every Anantara experience.

From lush jungles to pristine beaches and legendary deserts to cosmopolitan cities, Anantara currently boasts 20 stunning properties located in Thailand, the Maldives, Bali, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates and China; with future properties to open in Thailand, China, Laos, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, UAE and Oman.

For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, please visit www.anantara.com.
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/anantara and Twitter: Anantara_Hotels

Press contacts:
Marion Walsh-Hédouin: mwalsh@minornet.com
Natasha Rhymes: nrhymes@minornet.com